Article finishing apparatus and method



May 2, 1944. c. w. GEBHARDT 2,348,064

I ARTICLE FINISHING APPARATUS AND METHOD Filed April 8, 1942 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 BY Cmezss WGEEHHEOT' M mm 15M ATTORNEY5 May 2, 1944. c. w. GEBHARDT ARTICLE FINISHING APPARATUS AND METHOD 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 8, 1942 INVENTOR.

v amass GEE/M207" A'I'F EYS y 1944. c. w.- GEBHARDT 2,348,064

ARTICLE FINISHING APPARATUS AND METHOD 7 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 8, 1942 IITIVENTOR. 671M455 Gee/wear ATTORNEYS Patented May 2, 1944 UNITED STATES ARTICLE FINISHING APPARATUS AND METHOD Charles W. Gebhardt, Kent, Ohio, assignor to The C. L. Gougler Machine Company, Kent, Ohio, a

corporation of Ohio Application April 8, 1942, Serial No; 438,074.

- 13 Claims.

This invention relates to the finishing of metal articles and aims to provide a novel apparatus and method by which a smooth finish comparable to that obtained by grinding can be imparted to individual articles at a much faster rate and with much less expensive equipment than could be done by grinding.

Another object of my invention is to provide a novel apparatus and method by which the inner and outer surfaces of a bushing or similar article can be finlshed'in a single machine operation.

A further object of my invention is to provide novel apparatus for performing such finishing operations on individual articles and which can be rapidly operated in a punch press or the like and can be readily adapted to difierent sizes of articles.

Still another object of this invention is to provide-a novel method and apparatus in which a bushing or like article to be finished is held against axial movement while a finishing tool or pin is advanced into the article to finish its inner surface and the article is then released for advance movement with the tool and is forced through a hollow die to finish its outer surface.

The invention may be further briefly surnmarized as consisting in certain novel combinations, arrangements of parts, and method of operations hereinafter described and particularly set out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying sheets of drawings:

Fig. 1 is a partial plan view of finishing apparatus constructed according to my invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken through the apparatus substantially on line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the apparatus;

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view similar to Fig. 2, but showing the apparatus closed;

Fig. 5 is a detached sectional view of the article holder and finishing die;

Fig. 6 isa detached perspective View showing one of the stripper plate latches; and

Fig. "7 is a detached perspective View of one of the latch-releasing cams.

My novel method of finishing articles and the embodiment of, my finishing apparatus shown in the drawings will now be described in considerable detail, but it should be understood that the invention is not limited to the particular apparatus disclosed but can be embodied in various other forms of similar apparatus.

The embodiment of my finishing apparatus shown in the drawings is intended'for use in a punch press or similar machine (not shown) and comprises, in general, a punch carrier or tool holder it! adapted for connection with the slide or ram of the punch press and a die support or holder ll adapted for mounting on the bed or bolster plate of the press. My finishing apparatus also includes a hollow die l2 for finishing the outer surface of the article and .a finishing pin or tool l3 for finishing the inner surface when the article is a preformed open-ended hollow article suchas the bushing I l shown in this instance. As will be explained more in detail hereinafter, my finishing apparatus may include a stripper plate l5 associated with the punch carrier It. The punch carrier may be maintained in proper alignment with respect to the die holder l l by means of guide pins 16 connected with the carrier and slidable in guide bushings or openings I! provided in the die holder.

The die holder H may be provided with a recessed opening or shouldered passage !8 in which the hollow die l2 and an article holder I9 may be mounted. The finishing die and article holder can be separate members, or, preferably, as shown in Fig. 5, can be constructed as connected portions of a single body; The article holder it has an opening or recess lea of a size to receive an article to be finished, in this instance the metal bushing I 4, and to align the article with the hollow finishing die i2.

The die l2 has a passage or opening 12a therethrough, and at least a portion of such passage is provided with axially spaced annular ribs or lands iZjb which act on the metal of the bush-v ing I l to finish the outer surface thereof when the bushing is forced through the die. The ribs or lands [2b of the die may act as a smoothing and burnishing means which imparts a smooth finishor polished condition to the outer surface of the bushing. The ribs I21) may have rounded tops, as shown in the drawings, and may be in a stepped arrangement, that is to say, the ribs may decrease progressively in diameter by small increments from the top to the bottom of the die so that the finishing or burnishing of the outer surface of the bushing will be carried out progressively as the bushing is forced downwardly through the die.

The pin or tool 53 for finishing the inner surface of the bushing M is connected with the carrier it] in axial alignment with the article holder i9 and the finishing die l2. This pin may have a finishing section l3a adjacent its lower end which is adapted to be forced into the opening of the bushing as the carrier it approaches the die holder ll The finishing section l3a may While I prefer to have the ribs |2b of the die I2 and the ribs |3b of the pin I3 vary progressively in diameter, as explained above, the. ribs of each group can, if desired, all be of substantially the same diameter. Likewise I prefer to form these ribs so that their action on the bushing will be a smoothing or burnishing operation,

but, if desired, they can be formed to produce a cutting or broaching operation on the bushing.

The portion of the pin l3 extending below the finishing section 3a may be in the form of a tapered end |3c to facilitate the entry of the pin into the bushing. Immediately above the finishing section |3a. the pin may be provided with a plaintapered portion or mandrel section |3d which-follows the finishing section |3a into the bushing 4 as the carrier l approaches the die holder The mandrel section |3d'serves to support the bushing and hold the same against distortion or collapse while the bushing is being forced through the hollow finishing di l2. 7 In accordance with my method, the bushing 4 to be finished is supported in the article holder l9 and is held against axial movement while the finishing section |3a of the pin I3 is being forced into and through the bushing opening and also while the mandrel section [3d is being advanced into the bushing. Forrthus holding the bushing against axial movement, Iprovide stops 2| which are laterally movable in the die holder H and project into the opening or passage So to be engaged by the lower end of the bushing. When thehollow die |2and article holder l9 are constructed as a single member, as-shown in this instance, the member is provided with opposed slots 22 through which portions of the stop 2| project. Compression springs 23 located outwardly of the stops 2| act thereon to continuously urge the stops toward their inner position for engagement by the lower end of the bushing.

The bushing M is dropped into the opening I 9a of the article holder 9 while the apparatus is in its fully opened condition, and-upon movement of the carrier l0 toward the die holder during the closing stroke; of the punch press, the finishing section |3a of theipin l3 begins to enter the opening of the bushing, as repre sented in Fig. 1. At this time the bushing is seated against the stops 2|, as mentioned above, and is held by the stops against axial movement toward the finishing die |2. The pin I3 is ad'- vanced with a continuous movement, and as soon as the finishing section |3a has been forced through the bushing, the mandrel section |3d moves intothe bushing opening and when this has occurred, the stops 2| are automatically retracted to permit the bushing to move downward into the finishing die l2 with the subsequent advance movement of the pin |3. To accomplish this release of the bushing in timed relation to the advance movement of the pin |3,-I may provide the stops 2| with openings 24 adapted to receive stop-actuating pins 25 mounted on the carrier 0. The stop-actuating pins 25 are arranged on the carrier ID in alignment with openings 26 of the die holder and across which openings the stops 2| extend. The pins 25 have tapered lower ends 25a which, upon moving into the openings 26 of the die holder,

tracted position. If desired, the upper ends of the openings 26 may be fitted with bushings 26a which can be replaced when wear occurs.

As above stated, the bushing M is pushed or forced through the finishing die l2, and for this purpose I employ a sleeve 28 which surrounds the pin l3 and has an outsidediameter somewhat smaller than that of the bushing so asto be freely movable through the article holder and die. The lower end of this sleeve provides the pin with a surrounding shoulder 29 which engages the upper end of the bushing. The sleeve 28 is connected with the stripper plate |5- and moves with the latter. The stripper plate is connected with the carrier I0 by means of the headed pins or studs 30 which permit limited relative movement between the stripper plate and carrienas represented by the intervening space S shown in Fig. 2. During the closing movement of the carrier by which the finishing section I3a of the pin I3 is forced into the opening of the bushing l4, the

- lower end of the sleeve 28 is moved into engagement with the upper end of the'bushing. When this occurs, the stripper. plate and sleeve'remain stationary until the space S between the stripper plate and carrier has been taken up. By the time that this occurs the mandrel section |3d of the pin will have been forced into the bushing opening and the stops 2| will have been retracted by the pins 25. Thereupon the stripper plate and carrier advance together and the sleeve 28, advancing with the pin l3, pushes the bush ing I4 through the passage of the finishing die |2 while the bushing remains in surrounding relation on the mandrel section |3al. By the time that the stripper plate moves against or adjacent the face of the die holder II, as shown in Fig. 4, the bushing will have been pushed completely through the finishing die l2.

The apparatus is at this time in its fully closed condition and the carrier |0 now starts its return or opening movement. During the early part of the opening movement of the carrier, the stripper plate I5 is held stationary so that the pin l3 will be retracted in the sleeve 28 and the lower end of the sleeve will act to strip the finished bushing from the pin After being stripped from the pin, the bushing |4 falls freely away from the under side of the die holder and may be received in a suitable container. For holding the stripper plate |5 stationary for the stripping operation just described, I provide latches in the form of levers 3| which are pivoted On the die holder H and have hook portions 32 which are engageable over edge. portions of the upper face of the stripper plate, as shown in Fig. 4. Compression springs 33 may be arranged to act on the latch levers 31 for urging the hook portions 32 thereof to engage over the stripper. plate |5.

While the carrier I0 and the stripper plate|5 are moving together toward the die holder. II, the beveled faces 34 on the lower edges of the stripper plate engage the cam faces 35 on the latch levers 3| and swing the levers outwardly to permit the stripper plate to move downwardly past the hook portions 32. As soon as the stripper plate has moved below the hook portions 32, the levers are swung inwardly by the springs 33 to their locked position shown in Fig. 4 preparatory to the stripping operation above described.

While the bushing I4 is being stripped from the pin IS, the carrier I 9 is moving away from the stripper plate It which is temporarily held by the latch levers ill. I may also use this relative movement between the carrier and the stripper plate for automatically disengaging the latch levers 3| from the stripper plate. For this purpose I provide the carrier H! with depending lugs 36 having cam faces 3! thereon for engagement with cam faces 38 of the latch levers. During the upward movement of the carrier relative to the stripper plate, the cam faces 31 engage the cam faces 38, and, by the time that the stripper plate is about to be picked up by the carrier, the latch levers 3! will have been swung outwardly far enough to disengage their hook portions 32 from the stripper plate. The cam faces 37 hold the latch levers in their outwardly swung position until the stripper plate has been moved upwardly past the hook portions 32 by the lifting action of the studs 30.

As will be seen from Fig. 6, the cam faces 38 may extend for only a portion of the width of the levers and may be located at an intermediate point with the hook portions 32 On. opposite sides thereof. Likewise, as seen from Figs. 3 and 7, the cam faces 3'! of the carrier I are considerably narrower than the latch levers 3| and may be of substantially the same width as the cam faces 38. By locating the cam faces 3! on the carrier so that they will be in substantial alignment with the cam faces 38, the hook portions 32 will be left exposed for engagement with the beveled faces 34 of the stripper plate and for movement into locked position over the top of the stripper plate on opposite sides of the cam faces 3i. If desired, portions of the carrier II] can be cut away on opposite sides of the cam faces 31, as indicated by the beveled surfaces 39, to avoid interference between the carrier and the latch levers 3!.

It will be seen from the foregoing description and drawings that I have provided a novel apparatus and method with which various articles, and particularly bushings or the like, can be given a smooth finish comparable to that obtained by grinding. It will be seen further that my improved apparatus can be operated relatively rapidly in a punch press or the like and that one article will be finished for each operation of the machine.

While I have illustrated and described my finishing apparatus and method in a more or less detailed manner, it will be understood, of course, that I do not Wish to be limited to detailed steps and arrangements herein disclosed, but regard my invention as including such changes and modifications as do not constitute a departure from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. The method of finishing preformed openended tubular articles which comprises releas ably supporting sucha tubular article adjacent a hollow finishing die, forcing a finishing" tool axially into the article to extend therethrough and to finish the inner surface thereof while said article is being positively held against axial movement as by a retraotible stop, releasing the article for axial movement with said tool, and continuing the advance movement of. the tool and forcing the article through said. die for finishing the outer surface of the article.

2. The method of finishing the inner and outer surfaces of preformed open-ended tubular articles which comprises advancing a finishing pin toward and into a hollow finishing die with a continuous movement, supporting such a tubular article ahead of the die and positively holding the article against axial movement as by a retractible stop during the first portion of the advance movement of said pin so that thepin will be forced into the article for finishing its inner surface, and then releasing the article for axial movement with said pin and forcing the same through the die during the second portion of the advance movement of the pin for finishing the outer surface of the article.

3. Apparatus of the character described comprising a support having a passage therethrough adapted to receive a preformed open-ended hollow article to be finished, spring-biased stop means extending into said passage for temporarily holding the article against axial movement, a movable pin aligned substantially with said passage and havin a portion adapted to finish the inside of said article when forced thereinto, said stop means being retractable to permit the article to be moved through said passage, a sleeve surrounding said pin and engageable with the article, means operable to force said pin into the article and to advance said sleeve for pushing the article through said passage, and means for retracting said stop means in timed relation to the advance movement of said pin and sleeve.

4. Apparatus of the character described comprising a support having a passage therethrough adapted to receive a preformed open-ended hollow article to be finished, stop means extending into said passage for temporarily holding the ar ticle against axial movement, a movable pin aligned substantially with said passage and having a portion adapted to finish the inside of said article when forced thereinto, said stop means being retractable to permit the article to be moved through said passage, a sleeve surrounding said pin and engageable with the article, means operable to force said pin into the article and to advance said sleeve for pushing the article through said passage, and means for retracting said stop means in timed relation to the advance movement of said pin and sleeve, said pin being retractable in the sleeve for stripping the article from the pin at a point outwardly of the discharge end of said passage.

5. Apparatus of the character described comprising a support having a hollow die thereon and an article receiving passage above the die, stop means projecting into said passage for temporarily supporting an article therein ahead of the die, a carrier movable toward and from said support, means on the carrier engageable with the article to perform an operation thereon and to subsequently push the article completely through said die, and means on the carrier adapted to engage and retract said stop means.

6. Apparatus of the character described comprising a support having a hollow die thereon and an article reeciving passage above the die, a spring-pressed stop projecting into said passage for supporting an article therein ahead of the die, said stop having an opening therein, a carrier movable toward and from said support, means on the carrier engageable with the article to perform an'operation thereon and to subsequently push the article through said die, and a pin on the carrier having a tapered portion adapted to enter the opening of said stop to retract the same.

7. Apparatus of the character described comprising a support having a hollow die thereon and an article receiving passage above the die, stop means projecting into said passage for temporarily supporting a preformed open-ended hollow article therein ahead of the die, a carrier movable toward and from said support, a pin on the carrier having a portion adapted to "be forced into the article to perform a metal-working operation thereon, means on the carrier engageable with said stop means for retracting the same, and a sleeve surrounding said pin and adapted to engage the article and push the same through said die after retraction of the stop means, said pin being retractable in said sleeve for stripping the article from the pin at a point outwardly of the discharge end of the die.

8. Apparatus of the character described comprising a support having a hollow die thereon and an article receiving passage above the die, said die being adapted to perform a metal-working operation on the outer surface of a preformed open-ended tubular article, stop means projecting into said passage for temporarily supporting said tubular article therein ahead of the die, a carrier movable toward and from said support, a pin on the carrier having a mandrel portion adapted to be forced into the article while the latter is supported by said stop means, means for retracting said stop means, and a sleeve surrounding said pin and engageable with the article for pushing the same downwardly through said die while the article is on said mandrel portion, said pin being retractable in said sleeve for stripping the article from said mandrel portion at a point below the discharge end of said die.

9. Apparatus of the character described comprising a support having a hollow die thereon and an article receiving passage above the die, said die being adapted to perform a metalworking operation on the outer surface of a preformed open-ended tubular article, stop means projecting into said passage for temporarily supportingv said tubular article therein ahead of the die, a carrier movable toward and from said support, a pin on the carrier having a section adapted to perform a metal-working operation on the inner surface of the article when forced thereinto and a mandrel portion arranged to follow such pin section into the article, means for retracting said stop means, and a sleeve surrounding said pin and engageable with the article for pushing the same downwardly through said die while the article is on said mandrel portion, said pin being retractable in said sleevefor stripping the article from said mandrel portion at a point below the discharge end of said die.

10. Apparatus of the character described comprising a support having a hollow die thereon and an article receiving passage above the die, stop means projecting into said passage for supporting a hollow article above the die, a carrier movable toward and from said support, a plate connected with said carrier and having limited movement relative thereto,'a pin on said carrier having a portion adapted to be forced into the article for performing a metal-working operation thereon, means on the carrier engageable with said stop means for retracting the same, a stripper sleeve carried by said plate and surrounding said pin, said sleeve acting to push the article through said die after retraction of said stop means and to strip the article from said pin during the initial return movement of the carrier away from said support, and means for holding said plate stationary during said initial return movement of the carrier.

11. Apparatus of the character described comprising a support having a hollow die thereon and an article receiving passage above the die, stop means projecting into said passage for supporting a hollow article above the die, a carrier movable toward and from said support, a plate connected with said carrier and having limited movement relative thereto, a pin on said carrier having a portion adapted to be forced into the article for performing a metal-working operation thereon, means on the carrier engageable with said stop means for retracting the same, a stripper sleeve carried by said plate and surrounding said pin, said sleeve acting to push the article through said die after retraction of said stop means and to strip the article from said pin during the initial return movement of the carrier away from said support, a latch engageable with said plate for holding the same stationary during said initial return movement of the carrier, and cam means on the carrier for disengaging the latch from said plate.

12. Apparatus of the character described comprising a support having a hollow die thereon and an article receiving passage above the die, stop means projecting into said passage for supporting a hollow article above the die, a carrier movable toward and from said support, a plate connected with said carrier and'having limited movement relative thereto, a pin on said carrier having a portion adapted to be forced into the article for performing a metal-working operation thereon, means on the carrier engageable with said stop means for retracting the same, a stripper sleeve carried by said plate and surrounding said pin, said sleeve acting to push the article through said die after retraction of said stop means and to, strip the article from said pin during the initial return movement of the carrier away from said support, a spring-pressed latch fulcrumed on said support and engageable with said plate for holding the latter stationary during said initial return movement of the carrier, and cooperating cam means on the carrier and latch for disengaging the latter from said plate.

13. In apparatus of the character described, a support having thereon a hollow member adapted to receive a preformed open-ended hollow article to be finished, said hollow member comprising a lower die portion for finishing the exterior of the article and a guide portion above the die portion and also having a lateral opening at a point between said guide portion and said die portion, a laterally movable stop extending through said lateral opening for temporarily supporting the article above said die portion, a carrier movable toward and from said support, means on the carrier engageable with the article to perform an operation thereon and to subsequently push the article completely through said die portion, and means on the carrier adapted to engage and retract said stop.

CHARLES W. GEBHARDT. 

